OMG cats are the devil - according to midwives and health visitors!

[west0405]

That top photo - Looks like he's planning to be a vet .... 

Thats what we said too! Although I don't think Mojo was too happy about being the first 

His skin is doing a lot better now thank you all, he doesn't need his antihistamine twice a day anymore. Plus, since we started using a new cream his eczema is looking a lot less angry. He still has bad days but that is too be expected with horrible eczema as stress/teething/certain foods/lack of sleep etc can trigger it still. But the main problem was the constant itch and scratching which made his skin red raw. I can't imagine what it feels like to have an itch free face, eyes and nose now 

I still miss them alot but I know they would not be happy here as now Lennon is crawling now and they would have no where to escape! 
As for what breed it is... at the moment it is the PainInThe  Breed ! He is driving me mad   

Give Mojo a headbutt back for us Debbie 

[Debsymiller (Rufus' mum)]

Leigh, I don't think Moj would let me get away with grabbing him there!  He's headbutting the computer as we speak though! So glad Lennon's starting to feel better.

[JackSpratt]

That top photo - Looks like he's planning to be a vet .... 

Definitely.

Has to be said, though, your little ones face is looking a lot clearer. You must miss your three a lot.

[maryas]

What breed is the cat in the basket in pic 3? 

Fantastic photos.

Mary

[Wibblechick]

That top photo - Looks like he's planning to be a vet .... 

[west0405]

Just found these photo's  Lennon and Mojo were always best friends 
1. Taken when baby was 4 months old. That look on Mojo's face  "Mummy what is he doing to me?!!!"
2. Taken a few days before Deb came to pick Mojo up 
3. Taken a few days after all three cats had gone... definitely a bit of a hint don't you agree?! 

[Daisymac]

I grew up with 8 cats and had no problems at all,  they always slept in my bed,  I was always playing with them and then sucking my thumb,  my mum even once found me sharing the cats food !,   it is just people being extra sensitive about animals being around,  I now have 10 cats of my own and if we ever have children my cats wont be going anywhere !.  On the other side of the coin,  I never went near any dogs until I was about 5 years old (my Mum was scared of them) and I am allergic like crazy to dogs !.  Oh and forgot to mention,  I had asthma as a child as well that wasnt made any worse by the cats.

[Ann Clarke (Tabby cat)]

My 6 month old great nephew Lewis is already well used to animals around him due to spending a lot of time at my sister's (his nanna) and putting up with their menagerie  He has done since he was born so any HV's would have had a fit no doubt. My sis has 3 dogs plus they regularly look after my other niece's dog and 4 cats and they also have 5 horses. They have even bought Lewis a 3 wheeled pushchair so he can go down to the stables when his mum is helping sort the horses and sit and watch what is going on. He has already been on the back of the pony (held by his mum of course) and he's already learning to be gentle with the animals.

I was down there last week and one of the cats was sitting on my sister's knee when she got handed Lewis to hold, Harry (the cat) didn't move at all and was quite comfy and Lewis was stroking him really gently bless him. As you can imagine with them living in the country and having all the animals there is no way the place is spotless all the time and Lewis is doing great, no sniffles or allergies so far and he's really healthy. The only thing they do is keep the door closed to the bedroom where Lewis sleeps because Harry keeps going in the moses basket to sleep and he does go outside. However one of the other cats Tigger can regularly be found asleep in the pushchair 

Both me and my sis were brought up with animals and neither of us has allergies and we are rarely ill, I haven't been off work sick since Jan 2001! As long as you are sensible and as peeps have said make sure both the children and the animals are ok then there is no problem. These health professionals cause more harm than good sometimes and I often think it''s just because they don't like animals themselves.

[Elizabethvonotter]

Just for fun, and to see the reaction on my annoying HV's face (she didn't approve of cats with children either), I asked her whether it was time to stop sterilising the baby's things when our baby was chewing cats!

Poor Mim was very patient- didn't mind her tail being used as a teething ring and travelled many miles (willingly!) in a dolls buggy.

[Debsymiller (Rufus' mum)]

I'd be tempted to print some information from the internet and then politely offer it to her.  Regardless of personal opinions, it's totally irresponsible of midwives and health visitors to pass on incorrect information.

Totally agree, scaremongering is WRONG! I would also complain, sending in the information with my carefully worded letter about the affect on rescues that this has as well as the undue stress the MW/HV will have caused on the mother.

[J (Indoorcatsuk)]

To be honest I dont really know what the "hype" is about cats when babies are coming into the home. I have had a happy home with cats and kids for the last 4 years, and nobody has died or been rehomed. I really would love to know a reason why cats should be rehomed once a baby arrives 

I could understand a cat being rehomed if it was in its best interests ie baby always pulling it around, but its just a matter of trial and error in these cases. My Macey is an old grump with my kids, she has had some good swipes at them and left some damage- my son fell on her when he was a baby learning to walk, and now has a 3 inch scar on his head, but Macey is still here, it was an accident 

Macey still has a go at my daughter when my daughter has been anoying her, at the end of the day someone has to learn 

Its my responsibility to keep my cats safe from my kids and vice versa, but to be honest if the kids left the cats alone the cats would not swipe at them.

Now Harry and Lyla are a different matter, they grew up with my kids and still to this day they are not bothered by them, no matter what they do. They even play together 

My health visitor has several cats, our specialist nurse is a cat woman, and I cleaned out the litter ( with gloves on ) throughout my pregnancy.

My toddler daughter spends hours playing with one of our cats, and the only thing I stop her doing is grabbing at them and touching their bottoms. The cats often sleep in her cot when she's not in there. The only time I interefere with cat baby play is when our daft cat has had enough and my daughter doesn't realise.
However my cats are 100% indoor, I wouldn't let them sleep in there if they were outdoor.
At lunchtime I have to spend a great deal of time stopping my daughter from giving the cats her food, yesterdays egg sandwiches ended up all over the floor being shared around.

I do think the NHS should offer a toxo test to women who may be intelligence deprived with cats, just so they can realise they have no doubt already caught it and have immunity, and to shut up professionals who just don't know what the chuff they are on about.

[Susanne (urbantigers)]

I'd be tempted to print some information from the internet and then politely offer it to her.  Regardless of personal opinions, it's totally irresponsible of midwives and health visitors to pass on incorrect information.

[MrsR]

I'll be having tons of photos like cc's when my girls arrive - the HV will have a coronary 

[Sabrina (Auferstehen)]

I wish I knew if the US was like this as well. I was only pregnant for 5 months and the only ones to mention my cats were my grandparents (who hate cats).

Friend of mine is a pediatrician and he is for cats living with kids, or he would have to hide from me.

[maryas]

Just love the pic of baby and puss 

Print it off and stick it on the door the next time they are due to come and see you.

Mary

[Catjane]

I'm really surprised in this day and age that midwives, etc. are still trying to convince pregnant women to get rid of their cats. Back in the 60's when my Nan was pregnant with my Mum, she was told never to allow a cat anywhere near a baby, because a cat will "suck a baby's breath away". In actual fact, when people see cats licking the corners of a baby's mouth, the cat is just licking the dried milk. I think as long as you're sensible and don't clean out the cat litter (or use rubber gloves if you do), you can have as many cats as you want and the babies will be fine. Children who are brought up to love and respect animals end up as much more well-rounded individuals, in my opinion

It's not just your opinion, hun ... it's fact.  It is well-known in psycholigical circles that children who are brought up with pets are far more caring, considerate and, as you put it, 'well-rounded' than their pet-less counterparts.  Bloody health 'professionals'!  They should be encouraging parents to keep pets, not telling them to 'get rid' 

As for dirt and germs ... bring 'em on!  I keep my house clean (don't want pesky weevils and mice, and the like), but I NEVER, EVER use anti-bacterial stuff.  It's counter-productive anyway ... the bacteria just evolve to become immune to them anyway ... hence all the 'superbugs'.  And I NEVER use bleach unless it is absolutely unavoidable. It screws with the environment, not to mention being dangerous in and of itself.  And I hardly ever get ill, can't remember the last time, seriously.  I kiss my cats, and I don't wash my hands after handling them.

You know - we should have midwives like in mediaeval times ... didn't they double as witches (wise-women) who invariably kept cats? 

[CC & The Pussycat Guys & Dolls]

To be honest I dont really know what the "hype" is about cats when babies are coming into the home. I have had a happy home with cats and kids for the last 4 years, and nobody has died or been rehomed. I really would love to know a reason why cats should be rehomed once a baby arrives 

I could understand a cat being rehomed if it was in its best interests ie baby always pulling it around, but its just a matter of trial and error in these cases. My Macey is an old grump with my kids, she has had some good swipes at them and left some damage- my son fell on her when he was a baby learning to walk, and now has a 3 inch scar on his head, but Macey is still here, it was an accident 

Macey still has a go at my daughter when my daughter has been anoying her, at the end of the day someone has to learn 

Its my responsibility to keep my cats safe from my kids and vice versa, but to be honest if the kids left the cats alone the cats would not swipe at them.

Now Harry and Lyla are a different matter, they grew up with my kids and still to this day they are not bothered by them, no matter what they do. They even play together 

[Debsymiller (Rufus' mum)]

Its because of people like this that we see so many cats coming into the rescue

This is what happened to my Monty even though he was an old and poorly cat They were scared he would smother the baby so gave him up for adoption again! (We're his fifth home). As it happens, he's great with babies. He gives them a sniff and then completely ignores them!
I think it's so bad and when I have children, I get a lecture about my cats- they will get a lecture in return let me tell you!!!

[CC & The Pussycat Guys & Dolls]

Yes it gives me a chuckle if anyone says they are scared of cats  I dont really see how they can be 

[JackSpratt]

Actually, I went for a blood test last week and told the nurse I wasn't comfortable with medical needles. She said "well have something, with me it's cats" at which point I started laughing and asked what she didn't like about them. She informed me she thought they were evil.....and looked quite embarrassed when I told her I had four!

She wasn't mean in how she said it, but the situation struck me as quite amusing.

[west0405]

When I was pregnant I was very lucky with Midwives and Health Visitors, most had cats and other pets themselves. They always said that a Mothers intuition and common sense was better than their opinion 

For me it was Doctors and Nurses who liked to talk very bluntly about the fact "your child has an allergy and you are not helping his suffering" !!!!!!!! But the biggest one of all... FAMILY  I was brought up with several cats, a dog, bunnies, birds, rodents and a love of wildlife so spent most of my time outside eating mud and playing with snails and feeding hedgehogs. There were no allergies in my family and I had never even heard of eczema till I met my partner and his germ-scared family! They were not allowed pets as children and even now they are not what I would call animal lovers. So in total there is eczema, asthma, dog, cat, dust allergies and hayfever. My partners parents would faint at a bit of mud on my son And are all big fans of antibacterial cleaners/bleach/sprays etc ?????

Not surprising my poor son now has his fair share  I thought the fact that we had three cats would give him a better chance but no. I hate to think what our next child is going to have now we are a pet-free house!

Well that got the inlaw rant out the way for today!! Family dinner tonight.... better go and have a bath and scrub my child! 

[Beth]

And another thing: would the health visitor be more concerned if you had a cat or one of those dangerous "status" dogs that chavs have? I kno which one I'd prefer

Sorry but i think breed-bashing is just as bad as the cat-haters ANY dog can bite if provoked. I have a grumpy cocker, he may be cute and not a "bad" breed, but i can't trust him with my son, so i make necessary provisions and using stair gates etc, i keep both my son and my dog free from stress and therefore are safe from each other. No animal should be left alone with a baby or child, just takes a little care and thought to keep them both safe.

[hOrZa]

Can I just say a 4.50 this morning I was pretty sure my cats were in league with the devil too

[harlequin]

And another thing: would the health visitor be more concerned if you had a cat or one of those dangerous "status" dogs that chavs have? I kno which one I'd prefer

[harlequin]

I'm really surprised in this day and age that midwives, etc. are still trying to convince pregnant women to get rid of their cats. Back in the 60's when my Nan was pregnant with my Mum, she was told never to allow a cat anywhere near a baby, because a cat will "suck a baby's breath away". In actual fact, when people see cats licking the corners of a baby's mouth, the cat is just licking the dried milk. I think as long as you're sensible and don't clean out the cat litter (or use rubber gloves if you do), you can have as many cats as you want and the babies will be fine. Children who are brought up to love and respect animals end up as much more well-rounded individuals, in my opinion

[Leanne]

Thinking back, when Mr T first started visiting here, years back before he moved in fulltime, I always sneezed after playing with him and if he got dribble on me I reacted to it by being itchy and red .....

So I must have built up a resistance

Id forgotten that - just as well as he sleeps on me every night 

I just to get that with Jess too, still happens occasionally but not very often. When I spoke to the pharmacist once he suggested getting rid of the cat, my response was walking out!

[Wibblechick]

Thinking back, when Mr T first started visiting here, years back before he moved in fulltime, I always sneezed after playing with him and if he got dribble on me I reacted to it by being itchy and red .....

So I must have built up a resistance

Id forgotten that - just as well as he sleeps on me every night 

[Dawn F]

my friend was allergic to wasps or bees and they did that to her slowly gave increasing amounts of the venom

[MrsR]

Should have said small exposure building up really shouldn't I.    Its helped my sister in law and her daughter as they were highly allergic to my cats when I first met hubby but now they are fine.

[Wibblechick]

The more you expose someone to something the less likely they are to have an allergy and even if someone has an allergy the best thing you can do is to expose them to it to reduce the allergy.

An interesting thought ....  surely not at risk of anaphylaxis ? 

[MrsR]

The more you expose someone to something the less likely they are to have an allergy and even if someone has an allergy the best thing you can do is to expose them to it to reduce the allergy.

[Skiddaw]

I absolutely agree. We never had less than 3 cats when I grew up. It wouldn't have crossed my parent's mind to get rid of the cats when I was born. I'm absolutely certain the massive increase in childhood allergies is related to the 'douse everything with bleach' approach. A bit of dirt never hurt anyone and bringing children up with cats is an excellent way of teaching them how to live with and love animals. It really gets my goat when I hear about cats being made homeless as soon as a baby appears on the scene. Grrrr.

[MrsR]

Wait till they come over and the girls are dressed from head to toe in animal print 

[Beth]

IMO most HV's are the devil, along with some midwives Thankfully none of mine dared to say anything about my animals (perhaps the fact i'd wanted a home birth so as not to leave the dogs gave something away )

I agree with Catbirds post too, and that's why my son is free to run around the garden, play with worms, eat from the dog bowl (okay, i do try to discourage that one... he's s'posed to be vegetarian! ) he cuddles the animals, sleeps in a room with two kittens milling around, gets licked on the face by the dogs, etc. And despite our family being riddled with allergies, he has none and other than the usual colds etc (probably from all the toddler groups we go to and germs from other kids he meets! ) he is a super healthy little boy.

*finger up to stoopid healthcare "professionals" letting personal opinions affect their work *

[Gill (sneakiefeline)]

So agree with catbird 

No wonder so many cats get chucked out of their homes when babies are due if these complete morons keep talking rubbish grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

[Gillian Harvey]

Just checked and they are called "Twits" abit like me really! 

 

[Bazsmum]

What has a pregnant fish got to do with this? 

Just checked and they are called "Twits" abit like me really! 

[Dawn F]

I think she means the t word is a rude word!

[MrsR]

Twats the lot of them.

Excuse me? 

Everyone thats come to my house saying they are a problem

[CC & The Pussycat Guys & Dolls]

Twats the lot of them.

Excuse me?